Israelis take over Gaza-bound humanitarian ship

‘PIRACY’:Hamas denounced Israel’s actions, calling them piracy and a crime against humanity, while Israel’s prime minister said the activists tried to blacken Israel’s name

AFP, ASHDOD, Israel

A handout image dated Tuesday and made available on Saturday by Freedom Flotilla coalition shows Finnish flagged Estelle vessel and her crew.

Photo: EPA

A Gaza-bound ship of activists and lawmakers that was boarded by Israeli troops arrived late on Saturday at Ashdod port under naval escort, ending the latest bid to reach the blockaded Palestinian enclave.

More than 10 hours after Israeli naval commandos took control of it in international waters, the Finnish-flagged Estelle docked at Ashdod harbor in southern Israel. It was escorted there by two naval vessels.

The takeover ended the latest attempt by pro-Palestinian activists to breach Israel’s tight maritime embargo on Gaza, which prohibits all naval traffic in and out of the coastal territory.

“There was no violence,” an Israeli military spokeswoman said. “The passengers did not resist.”

On board the ship were 17 passengers, including five parliamentarians from Europe and a former Canadian lawmaker, organizers said. It was carrying a shipment of humanitarian aid and 30 doves, which the passengers had been intending to release on arrival in Gaza.

“We’ve heard nothing since they told us they had come under attack,” said Victoria Strand, a Stockholm-based spokeswoman for Ship to Gaza-Sweden. “We believe they have just passed into Israeli territorial waters.”

Earlier, Strand said that the vessel had been boarded at 8:30am after being approached by navy vessels about 38 nautical miles (70.4km) off the Gaza coast.

The military said the boarding was carried out only after “numerous calls to the passengers onboard” had gone unanswered.

“As a result of their unwillingness to cooperate and after ignoring calls to change course, the decision was made to board the vessel and lead it to the port of Ashdod,” the military said.

The troops “did not need to use force,” the statement added.

Israeli immigration spokeswoman Sabine Haddad said that “30 passengers, including 27 foreigners and three Israelis, got off the ship this evening in Ashdod. They will be questioned tonight.”

The foreigners, “entering illegally into Israel, will be expelled to their countries of origin. They could be repatriated immediately if they waive being heard by a judge who must rule on their expulsions within 72 hours.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the army and denounced the move as “a provocation,” the sole objective of which had been “to blacken the name of Israel.”

“Even people on the boat know that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” he said in a statement.

“If they are really worried about human rights, they should be en route to Syria,” he added.

The takeover of the MV Estelle was quickly denounced as “piracy” by Gaza’s Hamas rulers.

“The occupation’s attack on the Estelle and its capture of the activists on board is an act of piracy and a crime against humanity,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.

“It should provide an extra incentive for ships showing solidarity with Gaza and for regional and international efforts to lift the siege on Gaza and end the suffering of its people,” he said.

Gisha, an Israeli group that campaigns for Palestinian freedom of movement and trade, also denounced the commandos’ intervention.

“The question is not what is entering Gaza, but rather what — and who — is being permitted to leave,” it said.

“Israel continues to prevent people in Gaza from traveling to the West Bank and marketing their goods outside Gaza, stifling economic and social development,” the group added.